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CAFFEINE NEGATIVELY AFFECTS SHORT PUTTS MADE BUT REDUCES SHOULDER FATIGUE DURING 18-HOLE SIMULATION

Abstract

Noah L. Bishop, James Green, FACSM, Eric K. O'Neal, Lauren Killen, Corey Grozier. University of North Alabama, Florence, AL.

BACKGROUND: This study examined if caffeine alters putting accuracy in golfers during 18 holes of simulated golf. METHODS: Male golfers (n = 10) (handicap 0-10) completed two, simulated 18-hole rounds of golf with placebo (PLA) or caffeine (CAF) (6 mg·kg-1) in a double-blinded, counter-balanced design. Short (1.52 - 2.14m) and long (4.57 - 5.2m) putts were completed for each hole following a tee shot and a standardized (350 m) treadmill walk. Putts made, distance missed, HR, and acute RPE were measured for each hole. Session RPE was collected after completion as were subjective feelings for feelings of fatigue, nervousness, tremors, stomach distress, mood, and restlessness. RESULTS: Putts made (short distance) were statistically higher during PLA (6.3 ± 1.2) than CAF (5.1 ± 1.5) with no significant different for long distance (PLA = 3.9 ± 1.0, CAF = 3.8 ± 0.9). Accuracy, at the short putts (CAF = 27.3 ± 9.1cm, PLA = 26.8 ± 5.2cm) and long putts (CAF =34.5 ± 4.9cm, PLA = 32.1 ± 9.3cm), were not significantly different. RPE for shoulders was mitigated during the CAF session and approached significance (p = 0.06) with a divergence observed after hole nine. Compared with PLA, CAF resulted in significantly higher subjective feeling of tremors (p = 0.04), nervousness (p = 0.02), and stomach distress (p = 0.008) with no significant differences for fatigue, mood or restlessness. CONCLUSIONS: Caffeine before a round of golf negatively impacted putting (short distance only) but mitigated feelings of shoulder exertion later in the round for skilled golfers. Variation of results among participants indicates individuals should be aware of their personal responses to caffeine.

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